The American Protective Association, also known as the A.P.A., was an Anti-Catholic and anti-capitalist organization founded in Clinton, Iowa by attorney Henry F. Bowers in 1887. Its main purpose was to fight what the members saw as the threat Roman Catholicism posed for the United States (1). What people most feared was the fact that all Catholics had some loyalty to the pope at the Vatican, which many believed superceded loyalty to their own country.
The A.P.A. was formed because of a loser in an election in March lost, he believed, because of the Catholic vote. Influenced also by a fear that Catholic teachings were infiltrating the public school systems, a group of men joined together and formed what became the most powerful anti-Catholic organization of the nineteenth century (3)
However, by 1895, the A.P.A.'s membership had begun to slacken. Their influence in politics was beginning to wane, and this was disastrous for the organization, as many of its members had joined because of the political power it gave them. So early in 1896, the A.P.A. took a forceful stand against Major McKinley, who was then one of many possibilites for the Republican candidate for the presidency. The A.P.A. attacked McKinley because, unlike all the other candidates, he had refused to meet with them to discuss how he would implement their demands into his platform if nominated for the presidency. In retaliation, they spread the completely untrue rumors that he was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, that he was swayed in all his decisions as Governor of Ohio by the Catholic bishop of Columbus, and that he had two children in a convent. Moreover, there were claims that his secretary, James Boyle, and campaign manager, Mark Hanna, were also Catholics. (3)
At its height in 1896, the APA claimed 3,500,000 members
The A.P.A.'s influence
The A.P.A. played a major role throughout the united states during it's "quest" to banish all Catholics from 1893 to 1896 where it had began to lost power and existed until 1911. Due to it's massive amount of followers, the A.P.A. was able to push the tide of votes during elections and debates into their favor, mostly due to their sheer numbers. They strongly resented Catholics and were focusing mostly on pushing away the Irish Catholics and attempting to deny them entrance into the United States.
Cartoon
The Oath
This secret oath was taken by all the member of the A.P.A. in 1890s. The oath itself reveals the hatred which many members of the A.P.A. had towards all Catholics.
I do most solemnly promise and swear that I will always, to the utmost of my ability, labor, plead and wage a continuous warfare against ignorance and fanaticism; that I will use my utmost power to strike the shackles and chains of blind obedience to the Roman Catholic church from the hampered and bound consciences of a priest-ridden and church-oppressed people; that I will never allow any one, a member of the Roman Catholic church, to become a member of this order, I knowing him to be such; that I will use my influence to promote the interest of all Protestants everywhere in the world that I may be; that I will not employ a Roman Catholic in any capacity if I can procure the services of a Protestant.
I furthermore promise and swear that I will not aid in building or maintaining, by my resources, any Roman Catholic church or institution of their sect or creed whatsoever, but will do all in my power to retard and break down the power of the Pope, in this country or any other; that I will not enter into any controversy with a Roman Catholic upon the subject of this order, nor will I enter into any agreement with a Roman Catholic to strike or create a disturbance whereby the Catholic employes may undermine and substitute their Protestant co-workers; that in all grievances I will seek only Protestants and counsel with them to the exclusion of all Roman Catholics, and will not make known to them anything of any nature matured at such conferences.
I furthermore promise and swear that I will not countenance the nomination, in any caucus or convention, of a Roman Catholic for any office in the gift of the American people, and that I will not vote for, or counsel others to vote for, any Roman Catholic, but will vote only for a Protestant, so far as may lie in my power. Should there be two Roman Catholics on opposite tickets, I will erase the name on the ticket I vote; that I will at all times endeavor to place the political positions of this government in the hands of Protestants, to the entire exclusion of the Roman Catholic church, of the members thereof, and the mandate of the Pope.
To all of which I do most solemnly promise and swear, so help me God. Amen. (2)
The link above leads to an extract from the New Catholic Encyclopedia (2003). It give more detailed information about how the A.P.A. had functioned overtime, it's growth of members, and how they had influenced elections throughout many states.
The American Protective Association
History
The American Protective Association, also known as the A.P.A., was an Anti-Catholic and anti-capitalist organization founded in Clinton, Iowa by attorney Henry F. Bowers in 1887. Its main purpose was to fight what the members saw as the threat Roman Catholicism posed for the United States (1). What people most feared was the fact that all Catholics had some loyalty to the pope at the Vatican, which many believed superceded loyalty to their own country.
The A.P.A. was formed because of a loser in an election in March lost, he believed, because of the Catholic vote. Influenced also by a fear that Catholic teachings were infiltrating the public school systems, a group of men joined together and formed what became the most powerful anti-Catholic organization of the nineteenth century (3)
However, by 1895, the A.P.A.'s membership had begun to slacken. Their influence in politics was beginning to wane, and this was disastrous for the organization, as many of its members had joined because of the political power it gave them. So early in 1896, the A.P.A. took a forceful stand against Major McKinley, who was then one of many possibilites for the Republican candidate for the presidency. The A.P.A. attacked McKinley because, unlike all the other candidates, he had refused to meet with them to discuss how he would implement their demands into his platform if nominated for the presidency. In retaliation, they spread the completely untrue rumors that he was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, that he was swayed in all his decisions as Governor of Ohio by the Catholic bishop of Columbus, and that he had two children in a convent. Moreover, there were claims that his secretary, James Boyle, and campaign manager, Mark Hanna, were also Catholics. (3)
At its height in 1896, the APA claimed 3,500,000 members
The A.P.A.'s influence
The A.P.A. played a major role throughout the united states during it's "quest" to banish all Catholics from 1893 to 1896 where it had began to lost power and existed until 1911. Due to it's massive amount of followers, the A.P.A. was able to push the tide of votes during elections and debates into their favor, mostly due to their sheer numbers. They strongly resented Catholics and were focusing mostly on pushing away the Irish Catholics and attempting to deny them entrance into the United States.
Cartoon
The Oath
This secret oath was taken by all the member of the A.P.A. in 1890s. The oath itself reveals the hatred which many members of the A.P.A. had towards all Catholics.
I do most solemnly promise and swear that I will always, to the utmost of my ability, labor, plead and wage a continuous warfare against ignorance and fanaticism; that I will use my utmost power to strike the shackles and chains of blind obedience to the Roman Catholic church from the hampered and bound consciences of a priest-ridden and church-oppressed people; that I will never allow any one, a member of the Roman Catholic church, to become a member of this order, I knowing him to be such; that I will use my influence to promote the interest of all Protestants everywhere in the world that I may be; that I will not employ a Roman Catholic in any capacity if I can procure the services of a Protestant.
I furthermore promise and swear that I will not aid in building or maintaining, by my resources, any Roman Catholic church or institution of their sect or creed whatsoever, but will do all in my power to retard and break down the power of the Pope, in this country or any other; that I will not enter into any controversy with a Roman Catholic upon the subject of this order, nor will I enter into any agreement with a Roman Catholic to strike or create a disturbance whereby the Catholic employes may undermine and substitute their Protestant co-workers; that in all grievances I will seek only Protestants and counsel with them to the exclusion of all Roman Catholics, and will not make known to them anything of any nature matured at such conferences.
I furthermore promise and swear that I will not countenance the nomination, in any caucus or convention, of a Roman Catholic for any office in the gift of the American people, and that I will not vote for, or counsel others to vote for, any Roman Catholic, but will vote only for a Protestant, so far as may lie in my power. Should there be two Roman Catholics on opposite tickets, I will erase the name on the ticket I vote; that I will at all times endeavor to place the political positions of this government in the hands of Protestants, to the entire exclusion of the Roman Catholic church, of the members thereof, and the mandate of the Pope.
To all of which I do most solemnly promise and swear, so help me God. Amen. (2)
External Links
American Protective Association, from the New Catholic Encyclopedia
The link above leads to an extract from the New Catholic Encyclopedia (2003). It give more detailed information about how the A.P.A. had functioned overtime, it's growth of members, and how they had influenced elections throughout many states.
Citations / Sources
(1) "American Protective Association." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Jeniffer
Harrison. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. Gale
Virtual Reference Library. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. Web. 22 Oct. 2010.
<http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CCX3401800177&v=2.1&u=&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w>.
(2) Vincenzo. "Protestant Paranoia: The American Protective Association Oath."
Sancte Pater. N.p., 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.sanctepater.com/2009/11/
protestant-paranoia-american-protective.html>.
(3)Epstein, Pam. "The American Protective Association." 1896 . Vassar College, n.d.
Web. 25 Oct. 2010. <http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/apa.htmlp>.